She was fighting a losing battle, she knew that. She wouldn't up, though, for she was no quitter. Her persistence will pay off is what she thought. Picking up her weapon of choice, she went back into battle.
It was a battle Kyleigh Chase fought most every day. The battle, as she called it, was the battle of the hair. Kyleigh had very unmanageable hair that never did what she wanted. It seemed to have a mind of its own.
After a few more minutes of trying to curl her hair, Kyleigh decided to put her brown hair in a messy bun. Her curls never came out the way she wanted and she didn't have time to fight on. She was already late as it was.
Once she threw her hair up, Kyleigh put on her shoes, grabbed her keys, and then bolted out of her apartment. Luckily, she wasn't that far from where she was supposed to be so she just ran.
The small cafe soon came into view. Kyleigh stopped at the corner to catch her breath. Soon her breath became normal and she made her way across the street. Her friend was already there, sitting at one of the tables outside.
"Sorry I'm late, Rose." Kyleigh said as she sat down.
"Battle of the Hair again?"
Kyleigh nodded.
"Well, lucky for you I like you so I ordered for you." Rose pushed a basket of chips towards Kyleigh and a drink.
"Thanks so much, Rose." Kyleigh munched on a chip. "I wish I had hair like yours. Yours always seems so perfect."
"You'd be surprised what I do to achieve this perfect hair." Rose said as she flipped her hair back; Kyleigh laughed. "Besides, you've seen me in the mornings."
"Yes, and the sight is absolutely terrifying."
"Oi, not that terrifying." Rose said, throwing a chip at her friend.
Kyleigh was too slow to dodge so the chip hit her right in the forehead, which bounced into her chip basket. "Nice shot." Kyleigh said as she picked up the chip and ate it.
The two friends continued chatting as they finished off their chips. Once they were finished, they were off to travel the streets of London.
"Thanks for coming with me." Kyleigh said. "Shopping by myself is so boring."
"Anytime. Besides, I should get a present for your aunt too."
"I'm not planning anything. You know how I feel about birthday parties, but if you want to stop by for dinner you're more than welcomed to."
"May I make a request?"
"You may."
"I want you to make your delicious brownies."
Kyleigh smiled. "I'm sure I can manage that."
The rest of the afternoon was spent going to different stores. Rose had bought a necklace for Kyleigh's aunt. They decided to go to one more store before calling it a day.
"How is it that you can know someone your whole life, but have no clue what to get them?" Kyleigh said as she browsed through some clothes.
"Just get her something she likes. Shouldn't be that complicated."
"I know. It's just that…" Kyleigh trailed off, suddenly finding a shirt very interesting.
Rose put a comforting hand on her shoulder. "I understand."
Kyleigh looked at Rose with a sad smile. "Thanks."
Kyleigh spent a few more minutes browsing before deciding on a pair of earrings that would go with the necklace Rose picked out.
"So, if you want to come by tomorrow we'll be having dinner at six." Kyleigh said as she and Rose left the store.
"Yeah, I'll stop by."
They soon went their separate ways, Rose going to her place and Kyleigh going to hers.
Once Kyleigh arrived home she stuffed the bags in her closet. She then fell back on her bed. Birthdays weren't that difficult. They should be a happy day, but after that day when she was seven she just couldn't view birthdays the same way no matter whose birthday it was. Still, she tried to put her feelings aside so others can have a happy birthday.
At some point Kyleigh must have dozed off because the next thing she heard was her aunt calling her name. Kyleigh glanced at her clock and saw it was 5:30. She had indeed dozed off.
Kyleigh pushed herself off her bed and made her way into the kitchen where her aunt was putting away groceries.
"I have some good news." Her aunt said when she saw Kendra.
"You're pregnant?"
"No. It has something to do with you."
Kyleigh raised an eyebrow. "Should I be scared?"
"Of course not. I got you an interview at my office."
"Doing what? I don't have training to be a lawyer and I'm not going to work in the mail room."
"It's for a secretary position."
Kyleigh scrunched up her face. "You mean I'll be typing and filing?"
"Oh, it's not that bad. And at least it's a job. You need one since you got fired last week."
"I didn't get fired. I quit."
"Whatever. You still need a job."
"But a secretary? I don't want to be at a desk all day."
"You won't. Secretaries also run errands."
Kyleigh groaned, but said no more. The look her aunt was giving her said the subject was closed.
Kyleigh sighed. "When is it?"
Her aunt smiled. "Friday at two."
Later the night, Kyleigh was on the phone with Rose as she complained about the interview her aunt had set up.
"Well, your aunt is right. It's a job." Rose said.
"Can you see me as a secretary? You know how disorganized I am. I can barely keep track of…" Kyleigh trailed off as she glanced around her room. "My paints." Kyleigh looked under her bed and smiled when her eyes landed on her paints. "Found them." She could just sense Rose shaking her head.
"What am I going to do with you?"
"Keep me and love me."
Rose laughed. "Yeah, all right."
"Hey, do you think you can get me a job at the shop?"
"Really? You want to work in a shop?"
"It's better than being a secretary. Please, Rose. I won't ask you for anything else. I promise."
"All right. I'll see what I can do."
"Thanks so much. Now, I will see you tomorrow. I'm going to do some painting."
"See ya then."
Kyleigh hung up, then made her way over to her easel. Her easel sat near her window which gave her the view of the night sky. Perfect for inspiration. She set up her paints, and then continued her painting she had previously started.
The next morning, Kyleigh did not want to get up. She had stayed up late finishing her painting. Glancing at the clock, she figured it was time to get up since it was almost noon.
She laid in bed for a few more minutes before finally getting up and making her way to the kitchen to make herself some breakfast.
Kyleigh spent the rest of the day cleaning house and starting a new art piece. The last one she finished had all nine planets and around them were fireflies. When she was little she thought that stars were fireflies that were stuck in space. Kyleigh hung that painting on her door.
When it was time, Kyleigh started making her brownies and dinner. It was soon after she started that her uncle walked in.
"Something smells good." He said as he appeared in the kitchen with a cake. He placed the cake on the counter, took off the lid and was about to taste the frosting. Kyleigh slapped his hand.
"No tasting before the birthday girl."
"Well, you're no fun."
Kyleigh smiled.
"So, Carol told me she got you an interview at her law firm."
"As a secretary. I think she's hoping for me to be a lawyer like her."
"She just wants what's best for you."
"Can you see me as a lawyer? Besides, no offence to aunt Carol, but lawyers are boring."
"Well, you need something."
"I've only been out a job for a week. You two are making it sound like it's been weeks."
"We just…" He trailed off. "Never mind. I'm going to go change." He then left the kitchen.
Kyleigh had an idea of how that sentence was going to end, but she didn't want to think about it so she continued working. Occasionally, her uncle would come in to try to taste the food, but Kyleigh would always slap his hand away. You would think after so many times he would take a hint.
It surprised Kyleigh that she was able to finish dinner on time. She had to scold her uncle so many times and make sure he didn't snack on anything. She was just finishing setting the table when she heard the door open.
"I'm home." Carol called. "I bumped into some people on the way home so I just invited them for dinner."
Kyleigh walked into the living room and saw the people her aunt was talking about were Rose and her mum.
Kyleigh smiled. "So glad you two came."
"Well, we couldn't miss your aunt Carol turning forty-one, now could we?" Jackie said.
"I'm not ashamed of my age. I'm proud of to be forty-one." Carol said.
"We'll see how long that lasts." Kyleigh said.
"Let me go change into more comfortable clothes and then we can eat." Carol then left the room.
"She probably won't be proud when she turns fifty." Harold said. "She'll be half a century."
"I heard that. And you'll get there before I do."
It wasn't long that they were sitting at the table for dinner.
"You outdid yourself this time, Kyleigh. This is the best meal you've cooked." Rose said.
"You say that about everything I cook."
"Because it's true. You get better with each thing you make."
"Thanks."
"That's what you could do. You could go to culinary school and become a master chef." Harold said.
"I don't think I want to cook for a living."
"What do you want to do for a living?"
"And don't say painting." Carol said.
"What's wrong with painting?" Kyleigh asked.
"It's just not suitable for a life career."
"I think her paintings are wonderful." Rose said.
"I'm not saying they aren't but, Kyleigh, you have to start thinking realistically and stop dreaming."
"Many people have made a life of painting. It can be good money." Kyleigh defended.
"Most famous painters you hear about didn't become famous until their death." Harold said.
"I'm sure Kyleigh can make a good career out of it." Jackie said. "She's very talented."
Kyleigh was grateful for both Rose and Jackie. Sometimes it seemed like they were the only ones who understood her.
"Of course she is." Carol said.
Jackie was about to reply, but Kyleigh spoke before she could. "Anyone ready for dessert?" Anything to change the subject.
Rose helped Kyleigh clear the dishes from the table. Kyleigh then brought out the brownies, which Rose very happily helped herself to one.
Harold then brought out the cake and everyone sang happy birthday, except for Kyleigh. She could bring herself to throw a small birthday party for someone, but she could never bring herself to sing happy birthday.
Once everyone was done singing, Carol blew out the candles, and everyone had a slice of cake. Carol then opened her presents, thanking everyone as she did.
Soon after, Jackie and Rose decided to head home. Kyleigh thanked them for standing up for her as she walked them out.
"I don't know what your aunt and uncle go on about." Jackie said. "You're a very talented artist."
"I'll talk to you tomorrow." Rose said.
Kyleigh waved good-bye then headed back inside the house. She was about to go to her room when her uncle called her.
"I'm sorry if we seem harsh. We're just stating the truth. You aren't going to get anywhere in life with just your paintings."
Kyleigh was silent. What did they want her to say? Thank you? They were pretty much stomping on her dreams.
"It's time to get your head out of the clouds and focus on real life." Carol said.
"Unlike the two of you, I have an imagination and there is nothing wrong with that." Without waiting for a reply she turned and went straight to her room, closing the door.
She sat on her bed, wondering how her aunt and uncle could say such things to her. Painting was the only thing she was good at. Take that away and she was nothing.
Kyleigh grabbed her photo album that she always kept on the nightstand by her bed. She flipped it open and glanced through the pictures of her parents. They never told Kyleigh to give up painting. In fact, it was her parents who gave her her first paint set. She missed them so much.
Kyleigh soon fell asleep with the photo album clutched to her chest.
